Switch-operating mechanism



w. M. BROWN. SWITCH OPERATING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT-29,1921.

1399;540. I Patented Dec. 6, 192 1.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l- W. M. BROWN. SWIICH OPERATING MECHANISM. APPLipAnoM FILED SEPT-29.192l.

1,399,540, Patented Dec. 6, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Wines-sea. Jnvenfor:

UNITED STATES.

PATEN tries.

SWITCH-OPERATING MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 6, 1921.

Application filed September 29,- 1921. Serial No. 504,184.

To all whom it may concern:

Be t known that I, WILLIAM MILTON BROWN, a citizen of the United States, and

resident of Johnstown, in the county of Cambria and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improve ments in Switch-Operating Mechanisms, of which the following isaspecification. k y

' This invention relates to switch stands and more particularly to means for prevent ing the breaking ordamaging of any of the essential operating parts of thestand when the switch controlled by the stand is trailed.

The invention consists broadly in providing a weakened minor connecting member that will be strong enough to withstand the strains produced in the usual operation ofthe switch stand and of' lessstreng'th than any other connection in the train of mechanism so that it will break anclallow thefrce movement of the parts when the switch is trailed. One of the main objects is to provide a con nection of this character that will be inexpensive to manufacture and one that may readily be replaced by a person unskilled in the art. 1

A further object is to provide a connec tion of this'character that may be used a sec- Fig. 1- is a bottom plan ofthe" structure" shown in Fig. 3.

Referring particularlyto the drawings, 2

designates the usual switch stand casing in which is j ournaledthetargetshaft 3 having a target 41 on its upper end. The target shaft.

3 has a bevel gear 5 secured thereon intermediate its ends, wh ch 1s..1n mesh math 2. bevel gear 6 secured on one end of an operating shaft 7 which extends at right anglestogthe' shaft 3 andisjournaledin suitable hearings in the casing 2. d A counterweighted hand operated arm or lever 8is mounted on the" free endbcr through the casing 2, and the lever 8 is free torotate thereon.

The lower end ofthe target shaft 3 is provided with an offset head 9 having a screw th readedaperture therein for the reception of a screw threaded crank arm 10, which has apivotal connection with one end of the switch rod link 11. The other end of the link 14 and are of such site that only" the lug.

nearest the lever is engagedbetween them.

Itwill be readily apparent that when one of the lugs 1 1 is engaged between the ears 15. the lever 8 will have a positive engagement with the shaft 7.

The usual locking mechanism 16 is provlded ateach slde of the swltch stand casing for lockingthe lever 8 in its terminating positions.

With a switch stand constructed as describedabove, when the switch is trailed the weakest connection in the train of mechanism will break, and therefore the fracture will occur in the lug 14 engaged between the cars 15. After the lug 14L is broken the shaft 7 i and remainder of the mechanism is free to operate, therefore no damage. is done the vital and more expensive mechanism, andsince the collar 12 is provided with a second lugit is only necessary to remove the collar from the shaft 7 and replace itin the reverse position so that the unbroken lug will be inserted between the ears 15 to again place the switchstand in operative position.

It will be readily apparent that a particular advantage is obtained by locating the collar 12 on the shaft-7, since when the lug 1 1 is broken uponthe trailingof the switch the operating shaft 7, target-shaft 3', crank 10, etc, are all free to move with the switch. Therefore the target will not be falsified but on the contrary will show the true position'ofthe witch" to succeeding" traits;

- tion of the collar relative to the ears.

Referring particularly to Figs. 3 and 4 the invention is applied to the connection between the crank arm 10 and the target shaft 3 journaled in the casing 2. The crank arm 10 is of the double end type and is mounted adjacent the lower end of the target shaft 3 A collar 12? is secured on the free end of the target shaft 3 by a pin 13. A pair of diametrically opposite com-' paratively thin lugs 14 project from the periphery of the collar 12, either of which may be inserted between a pair of ears l5 on the crank arm 10 according to the posfli- T e ears 15*, are of materially greater thickness and strength than the lugs 14* and are so spaced that they will snugly engage the 111 S 14 t will be readily apparent that when one ofthe lugs 14 is engaged between the ears 15 the arm 10 will have a positive engagement with the shaft 8.

The remainder of the switch stand is of ordinary and well known construction as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, with the exception of the hand operating lever which will be secured directly to the operating shaft in the usual manner. Therefore this well known construction will not be further illustrated or described. 7 j The operation of this switch stand is substantially the same as that of Figs. 1 and 2. That is, if the switch be trailed the lug l4,

. which is inserted between the ears 15 on the arm will be broken, thus allowing the crank arm to rotate freely on the shaft 3 and prevent the-str'aining or damaging of any of the moreessential and expensive parts. The collar 12 is adapted to be removed from theshaft 3* and reversed in position when one of the lugs 14 become broken and reversed in position so that the other lug is engaged between the cars 15*, thus restoring the switch to operative condition.

Various modifications in the design and combination of parts may be made without departing from the spirit ofmy invention as defined in the appended claims. Therefore, I do not wish to be limited to the exact construction illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

I claim:

1. In a switch stand a revoluble shaft, an arm loosely mounted on said shaft, a pair of ears on said arm, and a collar secured on said shaft, at least one lug projecting from said collar, said lug being inserted between said pair of ears on said arm, said lug being adapted to break to allow the free operation of said switch stand when the switch is accidentally trailed.

2. In a switch stand a revoluble shaft, an

arm loosely mounted on said shaft, a pair of ears on said arm, and a collar secured on aid sh fi, pa fsf a e u s 011 s collar, one of said lugs being inserted between said pair of ears on said arm, said lugs being of less strength than said ears and being adapted to break to allow the free operation of said switch stand when the switch. is accidentally trailed, and said collar beingadapted to be reversed on said shaft when one of said lugs is broken to allow the insertion of the other lug between the ears on said arm.

3. A switch stand having a vertical target shaft, an operating shaft opcratively connected to said target shaft, an operating lever mounted to freely rotate on said op erating shaft, a crank arm secured to t e lower end ofsaid target shaft and adapted to be connected to the switch rod, and means positively connecting said operating lever to said operating shaft, said means being weakened at its point of connection with said lever 'so that it will break when the switch is trailed.

4. A switch stand having a vertical target shaft, an operating shaft operatively connected to said target shaft, an operating lever mounted to freely rotate on said operating shaft, a crank arm secured to the lower end of said target shaft and adapted tobe connected to the switch rod, :1 pair of cars projecting from said lever, a collar secured on said operating shaft, at least one lug projecting from said collar and inserted switch rod and operating lever so that it will break when the switch is trailed.

5. A switch stand having a vertical target shaft, a horizontal operating shaft operatively connected to said target shaft, a weighted operating lever mounted to freely rotate on said shaft, a crank arm secured. to the lower end of said target shaft and adapted to be connected to the switch rod, a collar secured against rotation on. said operating shaft, a pair of ears on said operating lever. a pair of spaced lugs projecting from said collar, one of said lugs being inserted between said pair of cars on said lever to operatively connect said lever to said shaft, said lugs being of less strength than said ears and being adapted to break to allow the free operation of said switch stand when the switch is accidentally trailed and said collar being adapted to be reversed on said shaft when one of said lugs is broken to allow'the insertion of the other lug be tween the ears on said lever.

6. switch stand having a vertical target shaft, a horizontal operating shaft operatively connected to said target shaft, a weighted operating lever mounted to freely rotate on said shaft, a crank arm secured to the 9W9 d p a d arg t Shaft and d p ed to be connected to the switch rod, a collar secured against rotation on said operating shaft, a pair of cars adjacent the end of said operating lever connected to said shaft, a lug projecting from the periphery of said collar, said lug being inserted between said ears on said lever to operatively connect said lever to said shaft, said lugs being of less strength than said ears and being adapted to break to allow the free operation of said 10 switch stand when the switch is accidentally trailed.

In testimony whereof l have hereunto set my hand.

WILLIAM MILTON BROWN. 

